Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-19

.
cd in il is chargeable not to the race
which made the civilization. but TO the
outside world, which, when history
shall be truly written, shall stand con
victcd of having forced the cursed
cause Of that evil upon il against its
repeated protests. It's tendency was
toward oXclusiveness andconServatism.
1t tolerated no invasion nor even dis
cussion of It's rights. IT admitted the
jurisdiction Of no other tribunal than
itself. And the world denied all cx-
PLANTATION, and rcbufled at every at
tempt Mt interference took its revenge
by declaring that the civilization of the
South was little better than barbarism,
and has SO written history. The old
South to-day stands charged with
stcrility. with African slavery, and with
rebellion, high crimes, and misdcmca-
uors.
traverse every charge IN the indict-
mcnt. assert that the South has been
misunderstood and misrcprcsentod. If
| Judged 10y the narrow standard OF
modern matcrialsm the southern civil
zation fp.l short vet there IS another
stanGmd hy which II measured the
fullest stature. and when we take a com
| prchonSivc sweep and study from n
higher plane than the low ground of
matcriahsm. the rise and progress of
nations, and the development of
national lie, with the elevation of It's
people. | assert that the sudden
supremacy Of the American people to-
day is largely due to the South, and to
its continued civilization.
Its love of freedom was instructive.
and it followed the guiding light Of
principle as steadily as the wise men of
the East followed the star which they
knew was leading them to the presence
| Of God
The difference between the southern
civilization and the northern was the
result of the difference between their
origins and subsequent surroundings.
The northern colonies of Great Bn-
tain in America were the asylums of re-
liCious zealotS and revOlutlOnistS, who
were bent Mt their first coming not more
on the enlargement of their fortunes
than on the freedom 10 exercise their
religions convictions, however much
the sudden transition from dependence
and restriction 10 freedom and license
may in n brief time have tempered
their views of liberty and have changed
them into proscriptors of the most ty-
rannical type.
The southern colonies, on the other
hand. were from the first the product |
simply of desire for adventure, for
conquest, and for wealth.
WITH THE CONSENT OF THE GROWN.
The northern settlements were
founded under the law, it is true but |
it was well understood that they con-
tanned an element that was not friendly |
to the Government and which was well |
satisfied to have the seas stretch be-
tween them. Tie southern, on the |
contrary, came with the consent Of the
Crown. the blessing of the Church, |
and under the auspices and favor OF
men of high standing i'll the kingdom.
They came with all the ceremonial of
an elaborate civil government, with an
executive. acOuncil dcputed by authori-
ties at home, and formal and minute
instructions and regulations, and when
they came they came to stay.
The Crown hoped to annex the I'M
known land living between the FL Do
RADIO. which Spain by an accident OBJ
tanned amid the summer seas, and the
mbounded claims of its hereditary en-
envy. France. to the North and West.
The Church, which viewed the indie
pcndonce of the northern refugees as
hercsy. gave to this enterprise its
benson in the belief that "the adyen-
turors for the plantations of Virginia
we're the most noble and worthy adj
yancers Of the standard of Christ
among the Gentiles." The company
organized and equipped successive ex-
petitions III the hope of gain, and sol
diors of fortune and gentlemen III mis-
fortune threw in their lot in the GER
taintv of adventure, and the probabil-
ity that they might better their cOndi-
ton.
Under such auspices the southern
colonies necessarily were rooted IN the
faith of the England from which they
came, political, religious, and civil;
and from the very beginning the spirit
Of the two sections was absolutely diff
fercnt. and their surrounding condi-
tons were for long time such as to
keep them diyersed
The frst Governor Of the Colony Of
VIRGINIA was member of a gentle
HuntiDolon>hire family, and he was
succeeded in Office 10y long list of
men. most of them of high degree. In
thefIst ship-loado Of coloniStSthere were
"four carpenters, twelve labOrers, and
finv.four gentlemen. But one half
Ueuny-voIth OF bread to this intOlertble
deal of sack.
John Smith, the strongest soHl that
planted the British spirit upon this
continent, and who was himself sol
der Of fortune. clied out in the bit r
mes, Of his heart against such colonists;
bat the long list Of royal Governors,
from Gates down to Dunm0re, and the
catalogue Of the names which became
conspicuous during the colonialperiod
serve to explain those elements of an
almost feudAl nature which gave the
distinctive impress to the civilization
Of Virginia, Maryland, AMI the Caro-
linas. and has |, II upon them the met
faceable imprint OF an aristocratc tend
ency.
| do not pretend to assert that the
inhabitants of the southern colonies
were the descendants generally of cdva.
liers such a claim would be arrogant
and absurd 1t makes no difference
now to the race which established this
Union whether its ancestors fought with
the Norman conquerer on Senlac Hill
orwbether they were among the villains
who followed the standards of HaroldS
carls. / simply aver that the gentle
blood and high connection which un-
doubtedly existed in some degree ex-
erted widely strengthening and re-
fining power, and was potent in its in
flucnce to elevate and ennoble not only
the families which claimed to be its
immediate possessors, but through
them the entire Colonial body, social
and polite.
make a prouder claim than this. |
asset that the inhabitants of these col
onics were the strongest strains Of many